Electric-switch mechanism



H. HUBBEU..

ELECTRIC SWITCH MECHANISM, APPLICATION FILED JUNE Ir, 1919.l

13352,@049 Pmndsept. 14,1920,

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IIIIII.

PATENT OFFICE,

HARVEYvIrIUBBELL, -OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC-SWITCH MECHANISM.

l v Application filed June 17,

To all vwhom t may concer/n Be it known that L., HARVEY HUBBELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bridgeport, county of Fairiield, State ot 'Connecticuh have invented an Improveaction of an accelerating spring, and I have illustrated a form of the invent-ion in which the primary actuator is attached to a shaft and is operated thereby, as in snap switches, I

and another form in which the primary actua-tor is operated by a lever and oscillates on a fixed shaft, as in ceiling switches.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification,

Figure l is a plan view illustrating the first mentioned form of the invention as applied to electric switch mechanism ot the' snap switch type, the shaft being in section on the line 1-1 in Fig. 2, looking. in the ldirection of the arrows;

Fig. 2 aside elevation ot this form of the mechanism complete;

Fig. 3 a fragmentary view partly in vation and partly in section;

Fig. 4 a perspective view of the primary actuator of this form ot the invention;

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 perspective views respectively of the secondary actuator, the contact member and the accelerating spring, these members being common to both forms of the, invention; w i

Fig. 8 a perspective view o the primary actuator ot the second mentioned form of the invention as applied to electric switch mechanism ot the ceiiing 'switch type, and

Fig. 9 is a perspective ,view complete, and Fig. l0 a plan view complete ot the second mentioned Jform ot the invention. A

20 denotes an insulating base which is provided with arc shaped inclines 21` which coperate in pairs, cach incline terminating in an abrupt shoulder 22. Alternate in` clines carry contact plates 23 and 24, each of which carries a binding screw 25, and

ele-

Specication of Letters Patent. Patentgd Sept 14 1920.

1919.` serial No. 304,879.

one of which is provided with a resilient retarding plate 26 denotes the contact member as a whole, 2T the secondary actuator as a whole and 28 the accelerating spring. The primary-actuator is retained in close engagement with the secondary actuator by means ot' a spring 54.

In the snap switch type of the invention, as illustrated in Figs. l, 2 and 3, 29 denotes the shaft which is provided with a head, shown only by dotted lines, which is seated in a recess in the under side ot the base, the shaft being provided with va linger piece or key, not shown, and rotating freely in the base. 30 denotes the primary actuator which in this form is provided with a hole 31 through which the shaft passes, the actuator being locked to the shaft by means ot wings 32 which are pinched out from the shaft and engage slots 33 extending radially from the holev in the actuator.

The contact member comprises a plate 34 engage contact plates 23 and 24 and the intermediate inclines on the insulating base. The secondary actuator comprises a plate 3S which rests on plate 34 of the Contact' member, and a sleeve 39 which passes loosely through hole in .the contact member, and is free to rotate independently of said member. Plate 38 of the secondary7 actuator l provided with notches 40 which are adapted to be engaged by downwardly turned lugs' 41 struck out from the primary actuator and with a downwardly turned lug 42 which loosely engages notch 36 in the contact member,.so that the parts may have independent movement. The sleeve is provided with an outwardly extending lug 43 which is engaged by a hook 44 on the accelerating spring. The other end of the accelerating spring is provided with a hook 45 which engages one of the contacts 3T on the contact member 26, the lett contact as shown in Figs. 3, G and 9. In this form` spring 54 bears against a. collar on the shaft and against the primary actuator and rotates with said parts.

In the ceiling switch type ot the invention, as illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, the shaft, indicated by 47, is anchored in the insulating base and the primary actuator, indicated by' 46, is adapted to oscillate thereon and is provided with an operating lever 52. In this Jform the primary actu- Cil ator is provided with the vlugs ll to engage the secondary actuator, as before, and with a lug 4S which is engaged by a hook 56 on spring 54. The other end of spring 54 is hooked into a hole in a head 57 on shaft 47. As the sliaftis stationary iii this form it fol-lows that the spring, in addition to keeping the piiinary actuator in engagement with the secondary actuator, will be partly wound at each actuation and will act to i'eturn thc primary actuator to its normal position after each actuation. At the outer end of the lever is a segment 49 to which an operating chain 5() is attached. 51 denotes the usual guide through which the chain passes.

In use, operation of the primary actuator causes lugs 41 to engage notches at() in the secondary actuator and carry it forward with a step by step movement. If the primary actuator is moved backward, in either form, lugs 41 pass out from notches 40 and backward over plate 3S and then drop into the other pair of notches 40, it being immaterial as already stated, whether the primary actuator is operated by a rotating shaft, or is oscillated on a fixed shaft. The secondary actuator carries the contact member through engagement of lug 42 with notch 3G, but as the connection is a looser one the parts ,have movement independently of each other. The movement of the contact member is 'necessarily retarded, moie or less, through the action of spring 5ft,

which in addition to holding the primary actuator in close contact with the Secondary actuator holds plate 38 of the secondary actuator in close contact-with plate 3i of the contact member. l preferably, however, additionally` retard the movement of the contact member while passingv over the Contact plates, e. during alternate actuations by means of the resilient retarding p'late 53, which is formed integral with vontact plate 23. it retarding plate may be used in connection with each contact plate if preferred,

but ordinarily one retarding plate isfound i quite sufficient. rlhe retarding plate normally lies in engagement with the contact plate, the contact being forced between the contact plate and the ietarding plate and caused to lift the latter plate against its resilience. Each forward movement of the secondary actuator through the connection of the accelerating spiiiig to the secondary actuator and to the contact plate, causes more or less winding of the accelerating spring. This is relatively unimportant when the contacts are passing over the intermediate inclines but becomes of vital importance when the contacts are passing over the contact plates. The retarding of the contact member by means of the resilient retaiding pl( :e or plates, if two are used, causes an clectivc winding or the accelerating spring which, when the contacts reach abrupt shoulders 22 .andare released by the retarding plate, acts instantly to throw the contacts past the shoulders with a great accelerationof speed, z'. e. with a snap, the limit of movement being the travel of lug 42 on the secondary actuator in notch 36 in the contact member. lVhen the contacts are in engagement with the contact plates the circuit is closed. lVlien the contacts rest upon they alternate inclines the circuit is open. Each complete movement of the primary actuator either'opens or closes the circuit.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. A switch mechanism comprising arc y l shaped inclines, alternate inclines carrying contact plates, a contact member adapted to engage alternate pairsA of inclines, a secondary actuator having a loose connection with the contact member and permitting limited independent movement of said meinber, an accelerating spring connected to the secondary actuator and to the contact meinber, and a primary actuator having `a step by step connection with the secondary actuator.

2. switch mechanism comprising are shaped inclines, alternate inclines carrying contact plates, a contact member adapted to engage alternate pairs of inclines, a secondary actuator having a loose connection with the contact member and permitting limited independent movement of said member, an accelerating spring connected to the secondary actuator and to the contact member.` a primary actuator having a step by stepconnection with the secondary actuator, and means for yieldingly retaining the actuators in operative relation to the contact member.

3. A switch mechanism comprising arc shaped inclines each terminating in an abrupt shoulderyalternate inclines carrying contact plates, a contact member adapted to engage alternate pairs of inclines, a secondary actuator having a loose connectionv with the contact member, a primary'actuator having a st ep by step -connection with the secondary-actuator, and means for accelerating the movement of the contact member when it passes off fromfthe inclines.

if. ri switch mechanism comprising are shaped inclines each terminating in an` abrupt shoulder, alternate inclines carrying contact plates, a contact'member adapted to engage alternate pairs of inclines, means for actuating the contact member with a step by step movement, and means for accelerating the movement of the contact member as it is passing off from the inclines.

5. switch mechanism comprising arc shaped inclines, each 'terminating in an abrupt shoulder, alternate inclines carry-4 ing contact plates, one of saidcontactplates being provided with a resilient retarding plate, a contact member adapted. to engage alternate pairs of inclines and the retarding plate, and means for accelerating the movement of the contact member Wheni/t passes oil' from the inclines and out 'of engagement withthe retarding plate. a

6. A switch mechanism comprising arc shaped inclines, alternate inclines. carrying contact plates, a contact member adapted'to engage alternate pairs of inclines and having a central hole, a secondary actuator comprising a sleeve lying "loosely in said hole, said secondary actuator having'a loose connection with the contact member, an accelering ,the contact member and having a sleeveA loosely `fitting in said hole and a lug adapted to loosely vengage the notch in the Contact member, so that saidparts may 'have independent movement, and an accelerating- 1 l'n testimony spring havingits ends1 connectedl respecondary actuator.

8. 'A switch mechanism comprising a con' tact member liavinga centra-lV hole and peripheral notch, a secondary actuator Teomvp'rising a plate resting on vthe contact member and provided with a `dovvnwardlyextending. lug loosely engaging .the notch in the contact member,` and a sleeve loosely tting in saidhole, and an accelerating spring having its ends connected respectively "to thesleeve and to the 'contact member.

9, A switch mechanism comprising a con tact member having a central holeand a peripheral notch, a secondary actuator comprisinga plate resting onthe contact member and provided with notches and a downiva-rdly entending lug loosely engaging the notch in' the contact member, and a' sleeve loosely fitting an; said hole, an accelerating spring having its ends connectedrespectively `to thesleeve and to the contact member, and

tively to the contact member and to the secv a primary actuator having lugs adapted to engage the notches in the secondary actuator and carry it forward With astep by' step movementwhereof I aiiiX` my si nature. HARVEY HUBB LL.- 

